DURHAM, N.C. – Duke landed three student-athletes on the 2014 Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey Team to tie for the most selections in the conference, as announced Monday, Aug. 25. In addition, the Blue Devils were picked to finish second in the ACC by a vote of the league’s seven head coaches.

A year after compiling a 17-7 record and advancing to the NCAA championship game for the fourth time in program history, head coach Pam Bustin’s squad received three first-place votes and 30 points in the preseason poll. North Carolina was tabbed the preseason favorite to claim the 2014 ACC Championship with 31 points, followed closely by Duke (30) and Syracuse (29).

Boston College and Wake Forest tied for fourth with 16 points, while Virginia was sixth and Louisville seventh.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Lauren Blazing, junior midfielder Aileen Johnson and junior defender Amanda Kim represented Duke on the preseason squad. Blazing and Johnson were among the seven players on the team who garnered All-ACC honors in 2013, with Blazing also earning Longstreth/NFHCA third team All-America recognition last fall.

The Blue Devils open the 2014 campaign on the road, traveling to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State Friday, Aug. 29 and Central Michigan Sunday, Aug. 31.